Category: Phytokeys

Pensoft Celebrates International Tea Day with Fascinating Discoveries in Camellia

Camellia species are famous for their tea properties, providing the leaf buds and young branches used to manufacture black, green, and oolong tea.

At Pensoft Publishers, we are proud to support the open-access dissemination of botanical knowledge through our journal PhytoKeys. On International Tea Day, we invite you to spill the tea on the captivating world of the genus Camellia. While most people recognise these plants as the source of their morning brew, the genus is incredibly diverse and economically significant. 

Camellia species are famous for their tea properties, providing the leaf buds and young branches used to manufacture black, green, and oolong tea. Beyond the teapot, these evergreen shrubs and trees are valued for their oil-producing seeds and their stunning ornamental flowers in horticulture. Despite their global fame, we are still discovering new members of this family, often in the remote forests of East and Southeast Asia.

One of the most dramatic stories recently published in PhytoKeys concerns Camellia hekouensis, a tree native to Hekou in Yunnan, China. For a time, the botanical community feared the species was lost forever after the last known living tree died at the end of 2024 due to bark destruction. 

However, a dedicated effort by the staff of the Dawei Mountain National Nature Reserve saved the species from the brink. They successfully protected 11 wild trees and propagated 32 others ex-situ. This species is particularly interesting because its chemical profile challenged previous scientific claims. While earlier researchers suggested it lacked certain purine alkaloids, new analysis shows the leaves actually contain 1.18 mg/g of theobromine.

Camellia hekouensis. Image credit: Dongwei Zhao et al.

Read more: Zhao D, Zhang G, Yang S (2025) Phylogenetic position, supplementary description and phytochemical analysis of Camellia hekouensis (Theaceae), a critically endangered tree native to Hekou, Yunnan, China. PhytoKeys 256: 185-195. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.256.149481 

Further research in Yunnan has revealed another unique relative of the common tea plant named Camellia yangii. Discovered in the forests of Malipo County, this species is a true member of the tea section, yet it stands out for being remarkably hairy. It bears a red or purplish red terminal bud that is densely pubescent, making it a rare and visually striking germplasm resource. 

Lead researcher Dongwei Zhao of Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha, found that while most Camellia species have five sepals, Camellia yangii typically bears only three. It also follows its own schedule, flowering about a month later than other tea plants in the vicinity. This late flowering phase is a natural barrier that prevents it from hybridising with other species, keeping its genetic line distinct. With fewer than ten individuals known in the wild, its discovery is a call to action for urgent protection.

Camellia yangii. Image credit: Dongwei Zhao.

Read more: Zhao D (2025) Camellia yangii (Theaceae), a new species of tea plants (Camellia section Thea). PhytoKeys 257: 247-256. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.257.152000 

Botanical science sometimes involves correcting the records of the past, as seen in the reinstatement of Camellia angustifolia. This species from Guangxi, China, was originally described in 1981 but was later dismissed as a mere synonym of another variety in 1992. 

Recent field investigations proved that this was a mistake. Researchers from the Guangxi Research Institute of Tea Science discovered that the original type specimen was actually a misidentified bellflower from a completely different family. Once the correct specimens were examined, the differences became clear – unlike its shrubby relatives that grow only a few meters tall, Camellia angustifolia is a majestic tree that can reach heights of 20 meters. 

Camellia angustifolia. Image credit: Shixiong Yang.

Read more: Deng H, Liao X, Yu X, Liu Z, Yang S (2025) Reinstatement of the independent specific status of Camellia angustifolia, a tea plant (Camellia sect. Thea, Theaceae) from Guangxi, China. PhytoKeys 267: 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.267.174664 

Our journey through recent tea-related discoveries concludes in the striking Danxia landscape of Guangdong Province. Here, researchers identified Camellia shangshii, a new species endemic to the red sandstone formations of Danxiashan Mountain. This species bears smaller leaves and flowers than its closest relatives. One of its most defining features is that its white petals are fused together at the base for several millimeters. 

This tree notably thrives in a unique microclimate where specialised soils and environmental contrasts drive the evolution of distinct species. It is named in honour of Dr. Shangshi Wu, a scientist who pioneered the study of these geological landscapes.

Camellia shangshii. Image credit: Shiyang Wang, Yinyu Wu and Xiaowei Yi.

Read more: Wang S, Liu H, Tan S, Shen L, Chen Z, Chen F, Fan Q (2026) Camellia shangshii (Theaceae), a new species endemic to danxia landscape from Guangdong Province, China. PhytoKeys 270: 13-23. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.270.172597 

As we celebrate International Tea Day, these discoveries remind us that our knowledge of the natural world is still growing. Every new species found and every historical error improves our understanding of the biological heritage of our favorite beverages. At Pensoft, we will never stop be-leafing in the power of new species to inspire conservation and science!

Make sure to follow PhytoKeys on Facebook and Bluesky for more interesting articles on plants.

The Emerald Forest: The middle Magdalena river Valley in Colombia, a biodiversity treasure hidden until recently

Lowland tropical rainforests, especially in South America, harbour the world’s most diverse flora – including a wide array of neotropical trees.

Guest Blog Post by M. Alejandra Jaramillo

The Mountains

In May 2022, we went on our first expedition to Serranía de Las Quinchas. To reach the Serranía, we turned west in the municipality of Chiquinquirá (known by its beautiful Cathedral, dated 1796), Boyacá department.

Little by little, we left behind the farmland and paved roads, reaching the deep green forest patches a few miles after the town of Otanche (one of the main sites of Emerald commerce).

Serranía de las Quinchas, a well-conserved forest in the middle of emerald production. Photo by Juan Pablo Alarcón.

Leydi Galvis and her parents, Don Lucindo y Doña Edilsa, greeted us with kind smiles and hot coffee, and we subsequently set up the camp to prepare for the next day’s expedition. We spent three days walking up and down the slopes, finding beautiful plants wherever we looked.

Accompanying our group of students from Universidad Militar was Dayro Rodriguez, a young botanist with an incredible eye for plants and a perceptive photographer. It was like visiting the Chocó Region –  very humid, green, and diverse!

In our first expedition, we collected most of our plants, including a new species of peltate leaves belong to pepper family (Piperaceae); “caipe” (Orphanodendron gradiflorum C. Cast. & G.P. Lewis), and Romeroa verticillata Dugand.

Interestingly, our Piper quinchasense M. A. Jaram., has now been spotted in several localities in the middle Magdalena Valley. The enigmatic legume Orphanodendron, meanwhile, derives its generic name from its classification within a subfamily of the Fabaceae. However, “caipe” is a locally common tree used for timber.

Romeroa, on the other hand, is a monospecific genus of trees in the Bignoniaceae with unifoliolate leaves. It is a Colombian endemic taxon, known exclusively in wet forests, such as the Las Quinchas region, located in the Boyacá, Cundinamarca, and Santander departments. The genus has been collected only a few times after its description 70 years ago.

Thus, the flora at Las Quinchas is an exciting combination of species with affinities to the Andes, Chocó Region, and the North West Amazon, with many endemics that make the area a deep, green paradise.

Left, flower of “caipe”, Orphanodendron grandiflorum (Leguminosae). On the right, Romeroa verticillata (Bignoniaceae). Photos by Dayro Rodriguez.

 Subsequent expeditions to the site have consistently yielded discoveries of new and rare plant species. These efforts are supported by a close collaboration with Gerardo Aymard, an expert botanist whose unrivaled ability to review collections and identify new taxa is essential to our work.

Gerardo’s botanical expertise has allowed him to identify two new species to science: Grias lucindoae Aymard & M. A. Jaram. (Lecythidaceae) and Schlegelia longirachis Aymard & M. A. Jaram. (Schlegeliaceae). Both rare genera are often missed by collectors or remain untouched in Herbaria.

Sarcaulus paujuliensis M. A. Jaram & T. D. Penn. Photo by Andres Majin-Ladino.

The Lowlands

In 2024, we had the opportunity to visit the lowlands in the same region. A team of faculty and students from Universidad Militar Nueva Granada visited Reserva “El Paujil”.

Lizette Sierra, Paula Lara, and Luisa Suarez came across a tree species with a unique flower that, no doubt, turned out to be a new taxon. Again, by the joint efforts of the young and inquisitive Andres F. Majin-Ladino, and the expert eye of Gerardo Aymard, we decided it was a rare Sapotaceae – this is one of those families for which indeterminate specimens pile up in herbaria around the world, as botanists just do not find flowers or the courage to identify species.

We consulted the world expert in Sapotaceae, Terrance D. Pennington (The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew), who was puzzled by the flowers he did not recall. Andres F. Majin-Ladino, with support from Fundación Proaves, visited the locality several times to collect additional samples. We conducted molecular sequence analyses, and the four of us henceforth described a new species of Sarcaulus, S. paujilensis M. A. Jaram. & T. D. Penn, now published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys.

Local naturalist Lucindo Galvis with botanist M. Alejandra Jaramillo. Photo by Juan Pablo
Alarcón.

The Bigger Picture

It is noteworthy that the Serranía de las Quinchas is at the heart of Emerald’s business in Colombia. Mining has been the fundamental activity in the region for very long time, not only of emeralds but also coal. We ought to thank the locals for conserving the remaining beautiful forests. More exploration is needed in the region to uncover its diversity, and efforts should be made to provide alternative economic activities for the community if we want to curb deforestation.

Currently, Las Quinchas region represents a complex and fragile spot of biodiversity that remains largely uncharted, even after centuries of exploration. Humans have long modified the environment and examples of overexploitation and associated species eradication are well-documented.

Forest ecosystems, such as the Magdalena River valley, are the most important global repository of terrestrial biodiversity, with more than half of tree species at risk of extinction. Quantifying the current global forest biodiversity is therefore an essential step towards mitigating global biodiversity loss and restoring biodiversity in severely affected areas.

Tree species diversity underpins forest ecosystem functionality and services, as well as the diversity of assemblages of flora, fauna, and microbes. Therefore, characterising and describing tree species diversity (i.e., Sarcaulus paujilensis), as well as its spatial patterns, is also crucial for safeguarding global ecosystem functioning, food, water, energy security, and our well-being.

Sarcaulus paujilensis. A. Flowering branch; B. Seed; C. Fruiting branch; D. Immature fruit; E. Mature fruit; F, G. Transversal section of fresh fruit. Photos by A. Lizette Sierra, Paula Lara, and Luisa Suarez; B–G. Andrés F. Majín-Ladino.

We are confident that many new plant species of the common families (i.e., Burseraceae, Lecythidaceae, Leguminosae, Meliaceae) of these wet forests will reveal themselves as we visit the locality and walk along the ridges with our eyes open.

Key to our discoveries is our passion for exploring the forest. Indeed, we have young students like Andrés Majin, and young botanists like Dayro Rodriguez on our side. Don Lucindo is equally attentive to let us know about flowering and fruiting periods and rare plants to examine. The contribution of young botanists and local experts has been key to our discoveries!

Original source:

Jaramillo MA, Pennington TD, Aymard-Corredor GA, Majin-Ladino AF (2026) Morphological and genetic evidence for the Sarcaulus brasiliensis complex (Sapotaceae, Chyrsophylloideae) reveals a new species from the rainforests of the Middle Magdalena Valley, Colombia. PhytoKeys 273: 37-54. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.273.175192

Revisiting Acalypha: Integrating global knowledge and taxonomy for drug discovery

This diverse genus of flowering plants holds significant medicinal relevance, and yet remains considerably understood.

Guest Blog Post by Lucía Villaescusa-González and Pablo Muñoz-Rodríguez

Since the first humans learned to distinguish the plant that cured a fever from the one that caused a funeral, we have amassed an extraordinary amount of information about the natural world. Whether used for food, medicine, or shelter, this ethnobotanical knowledge passed down through generations now serves as the foundation for modern experimental research.

Today, researchers explore the world’s plant chemical diversity seeking new compounds and species of medicinal or economic interest. However, discovering these resources and sharing the information effectively depends on one often-overlooked key: naming things correctly.

Taxonomy ensures that, when researchers identify a promising use of a plant, the rest of the scientific community can find that plant again, replicate the results, and build upon them. In a time of accelerated biodiversity loss, taxonomy provides the framework that allows us to document biodiversity and connect knowledge about species before they are lost.

For nearly two decades, our research group has focused on Acalypha, a remarkably diverse genus of flowering plants with approximately 450 species. It is the third largest genus in the family Euphorbiaceae —the same as cassava, poinsettia or the rubber tree— yet many aspects of its biology remain poorly understood. While numerous studies have pointed to the medicinal relevance of Acalypha, the information has historically been scattered across disconnected sources and regions.

Acalypha mollis growing at the Naciones Unidas National Park in Guatemala. Author: Gandhi Ponce Juárez – iNaturalist, CC0 licence (https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/234908619)

To fully explore a plant group’s potential, we must ensure our knowledge is organised and reliable. This is precisely where taxonomy becomes powerful. In a study recently published in PhytoKeys, we compiled, revised, and standardised existing knowledge about Acalypha uses published worldwide between 1816 and 2024.

Our review, published in the open-access journal PhytoKeys, revealed that nearly 25% of the studies we analysed contained at least one taxonomic error. These errors ranged from the use of non-existent names and already outdated synonyms at the time of publication to “impossible” data, such as species allegedly collected for research in countries thousands of kilometres away from their known distribution range.

By verifying every scientific name against current standards, we were able to provide the first standardised, reliable global synthesis of the genus. Furthermore, this process allowed us to clear the “noise” from the literature and identify exactly which species hold the most promise for future research.

Geographical distribution of Acalypha ethnobotanical knowledge. Top: number of studies with ethnobotanical information per country. Bottom: number of species with reported medicinal uses per country. Darker colours indicate higher values. Author: Villaescusa-González et al.

A clearer global picture

Once we brough this information together under a robust taxonomic framework, a much clearer picture of Acalypha medicinal uses emerged. We identified 62 species with documented medicinal uses across 55 countries. While the genus is used globally, pharmacological research is heavily concentrated in India, Nigeria, and Mexico.

In contrast, species-rich countries such as Brazil and Madagascar, with over 40 species each, remain significantly underrepresented. Also, while many species are used locally, a few are globally relevant: Acalypha indica, for example, is used to treat 23 different disease categories, while Acalypha wilkesiana, a common ornamental plant, is linked to 18 disease categories.

Our work revealed that these plants are used not just for human medicine; they are used in veterinary medicine, as pesticides targeting disease-carrying insects, and in ritual contexts. In human health, they most frequently target infectious and parasitic diseases, digestive tract issues, and respiratory symptoms.

Finally, we also detected a big gap between traditional use and modern research: of all species recorded in ethnobotanical surveys, 36 have never been studied in a laboratory. They represent a promising avenue for future research and drug discovery.

Acalypha argomuelleri, a shrub growing in the Peruvian Andes. Author: Pablo Muñoz-Rodríguez

Why this matters for the future

­The relationship between ethnobotany and experimental biology is widely recognised, and taxonomy plays a key role in bridging these fields. Accurate taxonomic knowledge is essential for ensuring scientific discovery and reproducibility.

When experimental research investigates plants that have been incorrectly identified, it leads to the perpetuation of errors in scientific literature. If pharmacological results are based on misidentified specimens, those experiments cannot be replicated, potentially misleading years of subsequent, expensive medical research.

Glandular hairs in Acalypha ecklonii, a species from Southern Africa. Author: Emma Ortúñez & Roberto Gamarra.

By integrating scattered ethnobotanical reports into a standardised, taxonomically reliable system, we wanted to provide a reliable map for all future Acalypha research. This study proves that precise identification is the basis of scientific discovery.

In an era of accelerated biodiversity loss, applying taxonomy to organise and validate the data we have today ensures the discovery of the medicines of tomorrow.

Original source

Villaescusa-González L, Cardiel JM, Montero-Muñoz I, Muñoz-Rodríguez P (2026) Revisiting Acalypha medicinal interest: ethnobotany, experimental studies, and the implications of taxonomic misuse pitfalls. PhytoKeys 270: 119-142. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.270.169087

Don’t forget to also keep yourself up-to-date with the latest discoveries described in PhytoKeys by signing up for the journal newsletter from the PhytoKeys homepage. You can also follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

Commemorating a conservation trifecta: Three new species of Glossoloma honoring a donor, a family of forest stewards, and a conservation visionary

Three new Andean plant species, discovered in a single day, stand as living proof that collaborative conservation and local stewardship work.

Guest blog post by John L. Clark

In 2016, I was in the midst of a major professional transition. After years in a tenured university position, I had moved into independent-school teaching and was directing my first extended international field course for the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. My goal was simple: give students firsthand experience in how biodiversity research actually happens—how field observations become scientific knowledge.

That March, I led 13 students into Ecuador’s Pastaza Valley on the eastern slopes of the Andes. We established two remote camps along a steep trail beginning near the Pastaza River and hiked toward Páramo, the high-elevation grasslands above treeline. The programme focused on documenting plant diversity: observing carefully, photographing plants, recording habitat data, and learning why details matter.

High camp during the 2016 Lawrenceville School Ecuador field course. (Photo credit: John L. Clark).

We expected a rewarding day of exploration in a spectacular landscape. What we did not expect was to encounter three plant species unknown to science, all in a single day along the same trail.

Those discoveries became the basis of a newly accepted PhytoKeys paper describing three new species of Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) from the Cerro Candelaria Reserve. But this story is about more than taxonomy. It also illustrates how conservation works in practice, through visionary leadership, local stewardship, and sustained support.

Meet Glossoloma: upside-down flowers and unexpected climbers

Glossoloma is a genus of Neotropical plants recognised for resupinate flowers, meaning the blossoms appear upside-down relative to the typical orientation. Most species are stout, unbranched terrestrial subshrubs with colorful flowers that stand out in Andean forests.

The three species we discovered are unusual because they are nomadic climbers. Instead of remaining self-supporting, they germinate in the soil and climb nearby vegetation, sometimes persisting higher on trunks and branches.

Three new species of Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) from Cerro Candelaria: A–B, Glossoloma recalde; C–D, Glossoloma puroanum; E–F, Glossoloma jostii. (Photo credit: John L. Clark).

The setting: Ecuador’s rich, complex and vulnerable Pastaza Valley

The upper Río Pastaza Valley is one of the Andes’ most remarkable biodiversity regions. Moist air from the Amazon Basin rises through this deep valley and meets successive mountain ridges, creating steep gradients in rainfall, temperature, and habitat over short distances. These transitions foster exceptional diversity and endemism.

Yet the region has experienced significant forest loss since the 1970s due to agricultural expansion and land-use change. Much original forest now survives only in fragments, making protected reserves essential. The forest where these species were found persists because of a unique alignment of conservation efforts—a true “conservation trifecta.”

Why these names? Conservation stories written into taxonomy

Scientific names can honor the people and partnerships that make discovery and conservation possible. Each of the three new species recognises a different kind of contribution.

Glossoloma jostii honors Lou Jost, botanist, conservationist, and co-founder of Fundación EcoMinga. His work has helped establish reserves and bring international attention to the Pastaza Valley as a biodiversity hotspot, demonstrating how scientific insight and persistence can translate into lasting protection.

Glossoloma puroanum honors Puro Coffee, founded by Andy Orchard, whose support through the World Land Trust helped establish and sustain the Cerro Candelaria Reserve. Conservation depends not only on research but also on reliable financial support for land protection, management, and the people safeguarding these forests.

Glossoloma recaldeorum honors the Recalde family of El Placer, long-time park guards and local stewards. Their daily presence, including monitoring trails, observing wildlife, and protecting the reserve, illustrates how conservation ultimately relies on committed local guardianship.

Brothers Luis and Jesus Recalde walking in the forest. (Video credit: John L. Clark).

Discovering three species in one day

Rather than promising immediate discovery, field courses aim to teach observation and critical thinking. Yet along the Cerro Candelaria trail, each unfamiliar plant raised the same question: could this really be undescribed? As evidence accumulated, curiosity turned into excitement.

For students, the realisation was powerful, as  biodiversity shifted from a classroom abstraction to a live and evolving data set. Meanwhile, for me, after nearly a decade studying Glossoloma, finding three new species on a single trail was both thrilling and humbling. It emphasises how much remains unknown, even in relatively well-studied groups, and how urgent documentation can be in threatened landscapes.

Montane forest and type localities at Cerro Candelaria Reserve. (Photo credit: John L. Clark).

Why taxonomy matters

Taxonomy is sometimes misunderstood as simply naming organisms. In reality, it provides the framework that allows biology and conservation to function. Before a species can be protected, we must first know it exists and understand where it occurs.

By linking these plants to the people who helped protect their habitat, I hope this work does more than add three names to a checklist. It shows that taxonomy makes biodiversity visible, measurable, and ultimately protectable, while recognising the collaborative efforts that allowed these species, and their forest, to persist long enough to be discovered.

Conservation is a shared effort

The Cerro Candelaria Reserve exists because leadership, funding, and local stewardship converged. These three new Glossoloma species are living evidence of what such collaboration can safeguard.

If there is one lesson from this discovery, it is that conservation works best when it is shared across scientists, communities, donors, and organisations, and sustained over time.

Original source:

Clark JL (2026) Commemorating a conservation trifecta: Three new species of Glossoloma (Gesneriaceae) honoring a donor, a family of forest stewards, and a conservation visionary. PhytoKeys 271: 173-185. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.271.181141

Pensoft Celebrates World Wildlife Day 2026 with Medicinal and Aromatic Plants

Medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPS) are essential for human health and ecological balance.

This World Wildlife Day, we are celebrating the role of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), which are essential for both human health and ecological balance. To highlight this year’s theme – “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods” – we have spotlighted six fascinating species from the open-access journal PhytoKeys.

Medicinal Marvels

The Coleus genus, a member of the Lamiaceae (mint) family, comprises approximately 294 species of perennial herbs and subshrubs native to the tropical and subtropical regions of the Old World, including Africa, Asia, and Australia. These plants are well-regarded for their diverse medicinal applications, and are traditionally employed to address respiratory issues such as coughs and bronchitis. The pictured Coleus harmandii species, native to Indo-China, shares the genus’ characteristic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Coleus Harmandii. (Photo credit: Thamarat Phutthai).

Read more: Paton AJ, Mwanyambo M, Govaerts RHA, Smitha K, Suddee S, Phillipson PB, Wilson TC, Forster PI, Culham A (2019) Nomenclatural changes in Coleus and Plectranthus (Lamiaceae): a tale of more than two genera. PhytoKeys 129: 1-158. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.129.34988

Meanwhile, an interesting-looking parasitic plant named Balanophora xinfeniae, and found in the shaded forests of Motuo County in Tibet, exhibits similar properties. A study on its taxonomic identification notes the broader medicinal significance of the Balanophora genus. Indeed, species within this genus are historically used to treat ailments, including liver disorders, stomach aches and hemorrhoids. 

Balanophora xinfeniae. (Photo credit: Meng Li and Chen-Long Fu).

Read more: Fu C-L, Zhou J-N, Liao W-H, Zhang T, Xu B, Li M (2025) Balanophora xinfeniae (Balanophoraceae), a new species from Xizang, China. PhytoKeys 266: 241-252. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.266.147400

Perhaps the most interesting of the bunch are species within the genus Huperzia, commonly known as firmosses, which are highly valued for their ability to treat Alzheimer’s disease. While the newly-discovered species, Huperzia crassifolia, was identified during medicinal plant inventories in China, it belongs to a group of plants that have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for cognitive health. Because this new species is a close relative of these established medicinal plants, it holds significant potential for future pharmaceutical research.

Huperzia crassifolia. (Photo credit: Zhi-You Guo).

Read more: Guo Z-Y, Liu H-M, Wang K-K, Fujiwara T, Liu Z-Y, Zhang X-C, Schneider H (2024) Huperzia crassifolia (Lycopodiaceae), a new species from China based on morphological characters and molecular evidence. PhytoKeys 246: 27-42. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.246.131046

Fragrant Frontiers

We now shift our focus to aromatic plants, beginning with Capsicum fruits. These are driven by a diverse range of organic compounds, responsible for their characteristic “bell pepper” scent. Pictured below, Capsicum cornutum is a unique pepper known locally in Rio de Janeiro as Pimentinha-do-mato (wild pepper). Its specific aroma is the product of rust-coloured outer hairs, which densely cover its stems and leaves. Unlike many common garden peppers, this species features a continuous ring of glandular hairs, which give it a distinct herbal scent.

Capsicum cornutum. (Photo credit: G.E. Barboza).

Read more: Barboza GE, García CC, Bianchetti LB, Romero MV, Scaldaferro M (2022) Monograph of wild and cultivated chili peppers (Capsicum L., Solanaceae). PhytoKeys 200: 1-423. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.200.71667

Plants within the genus Uvariodendron are also frequently characterised by the presence of aromatic compounds. Their scents are concentrated in the leaves, bark and flowers, ranging from spicy and peppery notes to distinct citrus or anise-like fragrances. These aromatic profiles have served as key diagnostic markers for botanists; for instance, species like Uvariodendron anisatum are named specifically for their scent. Interestingly, the fragrance emitted by the pictured Uvariodendron molundense aids in attracting many pollinators!

Uvariodendron molundense. (Photo credit: Ehoarn Bidault).

Read more: Dagallier L-PMJ, Mbago FM, Couderc M, Gaudeul M, Grall A, Loup C, Wieringa JJ, Sonké B, Couvreur TLP (2023) Phylogenomic inference of the African tribe Monodoreae (Annonaceae) and taxonomic revision of Dennettia, Uvariodendron and Uvariopsis. PhytoKeys 233: 1-200. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.233.103096

We end our series with the species Neocinnamomum citratum, a recently described evergreen tree from southwestern China. Unlike other Neocinnamomum species, which typically possess only a faint fragrance, N. citratum is characterised by a strong lemon fragrance present throughout its branches, leaves and bark. This potent aroma is reflected in its specific epithet, “citratum”. Due to these aromatic properties, the species has practical local utility; in Malipo County, for instance, residents collect the branches and leaves to use as spices for cooking. 

Neocinnamomum citratum. (Photo credit: Lin et al.).

Read more: Lin W-L, Zhang Z-Y, Deng C-Y, Xu W-B, Liu B (2026) Taxonomic notes on Neocinnamomum (Lauraceae): a new combination and a new species from southwestern China. PhytoKeys 269: 209-220. .https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.269.177163

From the life-saving potential of Huperzia crassifolia to the cultural heritage of Neocinnamomum citratum, these selected species demonstrate that the conservation of wildlife is deeply intertwined with our own survival. Through the protection of these medicinal and aromatic plants, we can safeguard the health and heritage of our planet for generations to come.

Cover image: Passiflora juliana – Porter-Utley K (2014) A revision of Passiflora L. subgenus Decaloba (DC.) Rchb. supersection Cieca (Medik.) J. M. MacDougal & Feuillet (Passifloraceae). PhytoKeys 43: 1-224. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.43.7804

Don’t forget to also keep yourself up-to-date with the latest discoveries described in PhytoKeys by signing up for the journal newsletter from the PhytoKeys homepage. You can also follow the journal on BlueSky and Facebook.

Pensoft Celebrates the International Day of Women and Girls in Science

In honour of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Pensoft Publishers celebrates the remarkable contributions of women in our journals’ editorial teams.

Since its inception by the United Nations in 2015, February 11 has marked the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, dedicated to honouring the transformative role women play in the laboratory, field and archives. Despite their undeniable impact, women account for only a third of the world’s STEM researchers and 35 per cent of all STEM graduates, with only one in ten reaching leadership positions.

This year’s theme and celebration is titled “From Vision to Impact: Redefining STEM by closing the gender gap”, and focuses on how new emerging technologies can shape the future of STEM and their impact on gender equality.

While the campaigns of the previous two years urged concrete steps for the promotion of gender equality in science, this year showcases existing good practices and solutions for making STEM environments more inclusive.  

At Pensoft, we champion this mission by amplifying the voices of the women on our editorial boards. By sharing their wisdom, reflections and visions for the future, we hope to foster a more equitable scientific community and inspire the next generation of girls to pursue their passions in STEM.

For young women and girls dreaming of a career in science, Sandy Knapp, co-Editor-in-Chief of the open-access journal PhytoKeys, offers a powerful reminder:

“Keep going and keep doing. Don’t let anyone tell you that science isn’t for girls – it most certainly is. Science is for everyone, and it thrives on diversity. We need all kinds of people to make it truly work.”

As a woman leading a major scientific journal, Knapp also believes that creating a sense of belonging is a shared responsibility:

“We all need to work on this, both women and men. I think we need to not immediately assume subordinate roles – this doesn’t mean shouting and stamping our feet, but rather assuming a quiet and determined excellence.”

  • Knapp conducting fieldwork in Brazil in the 1980s.

She highlights that representation is key to influence, noting that “the more of any minority there are in the room, the easier it is to make your voice heard and your opinions count.” This same spirit of determination defines the advice she would give her younger self:

“Don’t let anyone tell you something is too difficult – it might be for them – but not for you! Believe in yourself.”

  • Knapp at the launch of the Fixing Our Broken Planet Exhibition at the Natural History Museum, London.

Meanwhile, Tammy Robinson-Smythe, co-Editor-in-Chief of the open-access journal NeoBiota, emphasises the sheer excitement of being at the forefront of scientific research:

“Science is an exciting environment to work in. I love the fact that what we discover today is feeding into the textbooks of tomorrow. A career in science is worth all the effort!”

  • Robinson-Smythe conducting fieldwork.

Robinson-Smythe also shed light on the intersection of professional life and family. “Making space for women to be moms while contributing to the scientific community is vitally important,” she explains. To achieve this, she advocates for practical, structural changes:

“By offering childcare on campus and at conferences we can help moms to feel like they belong, rather than feeling like they need to ‘switch off’ motherhood when they arrive at work.”

Reflecting on her own beginnings, Robinson-Smythe’s advice centers on the importance of individual path-finding:

“I’d remind myself that everyone is different. Learn from how others navigate the research environment, but find a way that matches with your morals and goals.”

The co-Editor-in-Chief of the Natural History and Museomics journal, Deborah L. Paul, similarly encourages young women and girls to believe in their dreams – “your motivation matters the most”. To succeed, she suggests surrounding oneself with supportive individuals who say “yes” to those dreams and actively encourage exploration.

When it comes to building a scientific community where women truly belong, Paul believes the responsibility lies in active leadership and self-reflection. She asserts that “we each need to set an example,” which involves constantly questioning current workflows to ensure we are creating “spaces where we can be heard and contribute.”

Reflecting on her own career, she recalls the impact of mentors and offers the simple yet powerful advice:

“Be that person for someone.”

She ends with a heartwarming piece of advice she would have told her younger self when first starting her career:

“Recognise that one’s path through life may not be linear and that’s okay. Know that discovery will lead you to new places and new adventures.”

For Pensoft, celebrating women in science means building a publishing environment where their research is seen, and their voices heard. As we look at insights from senior editors like Sandy Knapp, Tammy Robinson-Smythe and Deborah L. Paul, the message is clear: the field is better when it is diverse.

ResearchGate and Pensoft Publishers announce expansion of their Journal Home partnership

The partnership now expands to 40 journals, covering the majority of Pensoft’s and partner’s journals.

Berlin (Germany) and Sofia (Bulgaria), 10th February, 2026 – ResearchGate, the professional network for researchers, and Pensoft Publishers, an independent open access publisher and provider of high-quality scholarly publishing services, today announced an expansion of their Journal Home partnership. Building on an earlier collaboration announced in 2023, the list now expands to 40 journals, covering the majority of Pensoft’s and partners’ journals using the publisher’s ARPHA Publishing Platform. 

Amongst the journals now enjoying increased visibility across the ResearchGate’s community of 25+ million researcher members are well-renowned scholarly titles affiliated with the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Swiss Academy of Sciences, International Association for Vegetation Science and The International Biogeography Society, as well as recently launched Pensoft journals, such as Individual-based Ecology, Natural History Collections and Museomics, and Food and Ecological Systems Modelling Journal.

With most of Pensoft’s eligible partner journals choosing to participate, the expansion reflects strong demand for greater exposure and engagement opportunities, particularly among smaller and developing journals in niche research areas. Through Journal Home, partner publishers can reach more relevant audiences, improve discoverability, and connect more effectively with researchers worldwide.

Participating Pensoft journals will also benefit from:

  • Increased usage and readership, with full-text open access journal content seamlessly surfaced to highly relevant researcher communities across the ResearchGate platform.
  • Stronger engagement from new and returning authors, connecting partner journals, including specialist and emerging titles, with targeted researchers and potential authors throughout the research lifecycle.
  • Dedicated Journal Profiles and prominent placement of Pensoft journals to enhance visibility and branding, boosting recognition of partner journals with researcher communities around the world.
  • Improved author experience, with the automatic addition of published articles to author profiles, clearer insight into reader engagement, and greater opportunities for meaningful collaboration.

“Journal Home allows us to provide our partner journals with improved visibility and stronger connections with global researcher communities. Many of these journals serve highly specialised fields, and Journal Home helps make sure their articles reach the right researchers, who will benefit from them most.”

Lyubomir Penev, CEO and founder of Pensoft Publishers

“We’re pleased to expand our Journal Home partnership with Pensoft to support an increasing number of partner journals. By bringing these journals onto the platform, smaller and emerging titles can expand their reach, attract high-quality submissions, and connect with the most relevant researcher communities at key moments in their research journey.”

Robyn Mugridge, Head of Partnership Development at ResearchGate

For more information about Journal Home, please visit www.researchgate.net/journal-home.

For more information about ResearchGate, please visit www.researchgate.net.

For more information about Pensoft Publishers, please visit www.pensoft.net.

About ResearchGate

ResearchGate is the professional network for researchers. Over 25 million researchers use researchgate.net to share and discover research, build their networks, and advance their careers. Based in Berlin, ResearchGate was founded in 2008. Its mission is to connect the world of science and make research open to all.

About Pensoft Publishers

Pensoft is an independent, open-access scholarly publisher and technology provider, best known for its 40+ biodiversity journals, including ZooKeys, Biodiversity Data Journal, PhytoKeys, MycoKeys, One Ecosystem, and Metabarcoding and Metagenomics. Ever since becoming the first to introduce semantic enrichments and hyperlinks within a scientific article in the field of biodiversity in 2010, Pensoft has been working on various tools and workflows designed to facilitate data findability, accessibility, discoverability and interoperability.

Pensoft and ARPHA integrate with Prophy to speed up reviewer discovery across 90+ scholarly journals

Prophy’s AI-driven discovery system will provide editors with a broader and more diverse pool of qualified peer reviewers based on automated semantic analysis.

In a new partnership between open-access scholarly publisher Pensoft and the AI-driven reviewer discovery system provider: Prophy, the editorial teams at all journals hosted on the publisher’s ARPHA Platform receive access to a broader and more diverse global pool of researchers. 

The integration connects ARPHA’s editorial and peer review workflows with Prophy’s continuously updated database of millions of active, qualified researchers. As a result, editorial teams across more than 90 open-access peer-reviewed journals powered by ARPHA can now opt to enjoy data-driven reviewer recommendations based on structured analysis of researcher expertise and publication history, with matches based on each manuscript’s topic, field, and research focus.

This development responds to a growing challenge in scholarly publishing. As submission volumes rise, the pressure on a relatively small pool of frequently invited reviewers increases, which eventually leads to delays and reviewer fatigue. By expanding the pool of potential experts and improving how they are identified with the help of semantic analysis, the integration supports a more sustainable and balanced approach to peer review.

“By working with Prophy, we’re helping editors discover expertise that might otherwise be overlooked, opening the door to a more inclusive, well-distributed, and resilient peer review ecosystem. This is about using technology not to replace human judgment, but to support it in a smarter and more responsible way.”

Prof. Dr. Lyubomir Penev, founder and CEO of Pensoft and ARPHA.

“We’re excited to work with Pensoft and ARPHA to bring smarter reviewer discovery to their editorial teams. Peer review should be efficient and fair, and this partnership helps with both. Editors can find the right expertise faster, which means less time searching and fewer delays. This integration helps editorial teams manage growing submission volumes without burning out their reviewer networks.”

Oleg Ruchayskiy, CEO of Prophy.

To further support editorial teams and client journals’ owners, Pensoft and ARPHA are offering the Prophy integration free of charge to all journals on the platform until the end of 2026. 

The partnership reflects Pensoft and ARPHA’s continued focus on equipping journals with practical, forward-looking tools that strengthen peer review, support editors, and help ensure the long-term sustainability of scholarly publishing.


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Pensoft and the University of Zurich sign strategic OA Agreement to support Swiss research

The agreement encompasses five key research and medical bodies, and allows corresponding authors to publish their findings without individual Article Processing Charges.

Pensoft and the University of Zurich have signed a comprehensive Open Access (OA) agreement, starting a partnership that enables researchers at participating institutions to publish their findings in Pensoft’s peer-reviewed journals without incurring individual Article Processing Charges (APCs).

The agreement encompasses five key research and medical bodies, namely the University of Zurich, the University Hospital of Zurich, Balgrist University Hospital, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, and the Psychiatrische Universitätsklinik.

Researchers from these institutions can now publish without worrying about APCs in 65 peer-reviewed journals published by Pensoft or hosted on its advanced ARPHA platform, including flagship titles such as ZooKeys, PhytoKeys, Biodiversity Data Journal, NeoBiota, and IMA Fungus.

Under this new framework, publishing costs for corresponding authors affiliated with the respective institutions are 100% covered by a centralised institutional deposit secured by the University of Zurich. By removing financial barriers, the agreement encourages scientists to disseminate their work to both the academic community and the wider public, making research immediately and freely available upon publication.

This initiative ensures that research is shared under open licences in strict accordance with the FAIR principles—making data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable.

“We are excited to start this partnership with the University of Zurich and sign an agreement that reflects our strong commitment to  inclusive and equitable open science. By supporting researcher-driven publishing, we continue to foster a sustainable environment for high-impact scientific communication.”

Prof. Lyubomir Penev, CEO of Pensoft

“We are pleased to extend our portfolio of gold open access journals, in which our researchers can publish their findings without paying individual APCs. We thereby strengthen our commitment to open research information.”

University Library Zurich

Are you affiliated with a research institution operating with OA agreements? Is your institution interested in helping resident researchers navigate the complex processes underpinning academic publishing and knowledge sharing? Reach out to <[email protected]> to discuss a potential collaboration.

Pensoft and Bibsam Consortium announce new OA agreement to advance scholarly publishing in Sweden

The agreement covers almost 100 institutions, including Karolinska Institutet, Lund University, Uppsala University, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

Pensoft and the Bibsam Consortium, operated by the National Library of Sweden, are pleased to announce the signing of a comprehensive Open Access (OA) agreement, marking a significant step in the transition towards a more transparent and open scholarly publishing landscape in Sweden.

Thanks to this move, researchers at participating institutions will be able to publish their findings in 65 journals published by Pensoft or using its advanced publishing platform ARPHA, including flagship titles such as ZooKeys, PhytoKeys, Biodiversity Data Journal, NeoBiota and IMA Fungus, without incurring individual article processing charges (APCs). 

The agreement encompasses 97 research bodies, including Karolinska Institutet, Lund University, Uppsala University, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.

All authors affiliated with participating institutions can benefit from this agreement, with publishing costs 100% covered by an institutional deposit secured by the National Library of Sweden.

Unlike subscription-based systems, an OA framework ensures that scientific findings are immediately and freely available to the global community, supporting the global shift toward accessible science and adhering to the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable). 

OA agreements like this one reduce the financial burden on scientists and encourage them to share their work with both academia and the wider public, ultimately lowering barriers to sharing knowledge in a time when scientific input is key to resolving global challenges.

“We are excited to start this partnership with Bisbam and sign an agreement that reflects our strong commitment to open science. By supporting researcher-driven publishing, we continue to foster a sustainable environment for high-impact scientific communication.”

Prof. Lyubomir Penev, CEO of Pensoft

“We are delighted to announce the addition of Pensoft Publishers to our portfolio of nationally funded agreements for 2026. This represents an important step towards achieving full open access to scientific publications in Sweden.”

Niklas Willén, License Manager at Bibsam Consortium and National Library of Sweden

Are you affiliated with a research institution operating with OA agreements? Is your institution interested in helping resident researchers navigate the complex processes underpinning academic publishing and knowledge sharing? Reach out to <[email protected]> to discuss a potential collaboration.